with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

on Burma

Charles Tannock, Geoffrey Van Orden
on behalf of the ECR Group

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

European Parliament resolution on Burma

B7‑0109/2010

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma, in particular those of 23 October 2008, 19 June 2008 and 24 April 2008,

- having regard to the Council conclusions on Burma/Myanmar of 27 April 2009,

- having regard to the Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the Karen civilians fleeing Burma/Myanmar of 12 June 2009,

- having regard to the Declaration on Burma/Myanmar of the European Council of 18 and 19 June 2009,

- having regard to the ASEAN Chairman's Statement on Myanmar of 11 August 2009,

- having regard to the Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the verdict against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of 12 August 2009,

- having regard to the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar of 23 December 2009,

- having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas the last elections in 1990 were won by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party, but the results were never honoured by the military, which has ruled the country since 1962,

B. whereas the General Secretary of Burma's main opposition party (the National League for Democracy - NLD), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been unjustly held under house-arrest for over 14 years; whereas more than 2000 individuals continue to face imprisonment in atrocious conditions merely for expressing the wish to bring democracy to Burma; and whereas the UN, EU and Member States continue to formally appeal to the Burmese military authorities to release all political prisoners;

C. whereas Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD) and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, was sentenced on 11 August 2009 to 3 years in prison, a sentence that was commuted by the Burmese authorities to 18 months to be served under house arrest; whereas her lawyers have launched an appeal to Burma's Supreme Court against the sentence,

D. whereas the unjustified trial and verdict against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely condemned by the international community; whereas on 13 August 2009 the Council adopted a Common Position imposing a new set of targeted measures against Burma,

E. whereas the human rights situation in Burma has continued to deteriorate, political repression has further escalated and fundamental freedoms of the Burmese people have been systematically violated,

F. whereas the EU, US, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand maintain targeted sanctions (visa bans, asset freezes, export and import bans, arms embargoes) against Burma's military authorities in light of the fact that the junta continues to deny its people basic economic, social and political freedoms;

G. whereas the Burmese authorities have expressed their determination to proceed with national elections in 2010; whereas the NLD and some ethnic groups object to the new constitution, which guarantees Burmese military authorities a quarter of all seats in the People's Assembly, and reserve their position on participating in the elections,

H. whereas the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation concluded on 19 November 2009 that the complete elimination of the use of forced labour in Burma has not yet been achieved,

I. whereas on 5 February 2010 the Thai authorities were planning the forced repatriation of Karen refugees to Burma, but have suspended all repatriations following demands from regional human rights groups and members of the international community,

J. Whereas journalist Ngwe Soe Lin who reported for the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma, was convicted of violating immigration laws and the Electronics Act, has been sentenced by a military court in Burma to 13 years in prison for working illegally for foreign media organisations,

K. Whereas in December 2009, freelance journalist Hla Hla Win was jailed for 20 years by a military court on similar charges to Ngwe Soe Linafter after being found guilty of providing video content for the Democratic Voice of Burma,

1. Strongly condemns the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Sakharov Prize in 1990, and who has tirelessly defended universal values of human rights, freedom and democracy; urges the Burmese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release her;

2. Denounces the arbitrary charges behind the arrests of political opponents or dissidents; urges the Burmese authorities to desist from further politically motivated arrests, to release all prisoners of conscience, without delay, without conditions and with full restoration of their political rights, and to provide information on the whereabouts of persons who are detained or have been subjected to enforced disappearance;

3. Strongly condemns the continuing repression and intimidation by the Burmese authorities of Buddhist Monks; urges the Burmese authorities to end this repression and release all Buddhist Monks who are serving prison terms;

4. Strongly condemns the ethnic and religious discrimination by the SPDC of minority groups,

5. Condemns the restrictions on the freedom of assembly, association, movement and expression in Burma; urges the Burmese authorities to lift these restrictions, including those imposed on free and independent media;

6. Deeply regrets that the Burmese authorities have not taken all the necessary steps to ensure that the national elections in 2010 will be free, fair, transparent and inclusive; urges the Burmese authorities to take immediate measures to undertake a genuine dialogue with the NLD and all other concerned parties to ensure the credibility of the elections;

7. Calls on the Burmese military leadership to allow international observers to monitor the election process and urges them to respect the democratic will of the Burmese people;

8. Strongly condemns the continuing practice of forced labour in Burma and the imprisonment of persons who have complained of being subjected to forced labour; urges the Burmese authorities to eliminate the use of forced labour and to release all those who have complained of being subjected to it;

9. Emphasises that farmers and their families, who rely on their harvests for sustenance and livelihood, are particularly affected by the regular demands for forced labor. Arbitrary fees and extortion by the SPDC further hinder the ability to own, hold, and dispose of personal property and income.

10. Welcomes the decision of the Thai authorities to suspend the forced repatriation of Karen refugees to Burma; calls on the Royal Thai government to work with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Thai Burma Border Consortium and the international community to find an alternative solution that ensures the safety of the Karen refugees;

11. Calls on the Burmese government to end all human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and mistreatment of prisoners, forced labour, severe reprisals against members of the opposition, restrictions on movement, expression, and religious freedom, extortion, abusive military conscription policies, and confiscation of property without due process or adequate compensation,

12. Calls on the Council to strengthen and renew the restrictive measures imposed on the Burmese regime, to renew their effectiveness, and to continue to withhold non-humanitarian aid,

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the State Peace and Development Council, the governments of the ASEAN and ASEM member states, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, and the United Nations Secretary-General.